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In this issue we tackle important challenges for those who work or volunteer in wildlife protection. Our articles range from the rescuing of large numbers of injured birds during duck hunting season to the commercial kangaroo industry, where the divergent perceptions of this animal, from being too many and a nuisance to being celebrated as a national icon and major tourist drawcard, play a significant role.

Jess Ison relates the sad story of the annual duck-shooting season. Hundreds of injured birds result from this sport and large numbers of protected species are killed. While the news is somewhat good, in that numbers of shooters have dwindled over the years, there is still much to do to ensure our ducks do not end up on the ‘endangered’ list.

In “Selling out the kangaroo”, Louise Boronyak highlights some of the welfare issues surrounding the commercialisation of kangaroo shooting and debunks myths about kangaroos that are used to prop up the industry. But more than this, Louise provides a positive message about how we can move away from the status quo and provide a conservation-focussed endgame.

It’s hard to imagine why some people treat wildlife with indifference as here, at the magazine, we are constantly amazed by animals. When Kay Parkin travelled to a far-flung Aussie outpost, Christmas Island, to take a look at
an area known as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean she found incredible species, some of which live only on this island. The annual red crab migration, where millions of these creatures make their way to the sea to spawn by literally flowing through the town do so, is breathtaking.

Our beautiful cover this month of a pair of Tawny Frogmouths was taken by John Cooper. Inside, he tells you all about how he managed to document their nightly activities and capture these gorgeous photos.

This magazine is the start of our third year of publication and we’d like to say a big thank you to all our readers, as well as to our authors, photographers, editorial staff, sponsors and advertisers. Together you have made this a truly remarkable publication that is still raising eyebrows wherever it is seen.

To start this third year off with a bang, we’d like to announce the winner of the last issue’s exciting EarthWatch Expedition Competition – the prize being a seven-day trip across the north of Queensland with Earthwatch Australia. We had tremendous interest in this competition, and for good reason – this unique and exciting prize is worth two thousand dollars! The lucky subscriber whose number was drawn is Tony Egan from South Australia. Congratulations Tony, we know you will have an amazing time up there. And we hope you will bring back some stories and photos we can share with our readers.

Speaking of competitions, we have the results of our readers’ images competition in this issue, where you, the reader, gave us your best wildlife photos. We have published all of the winning shots, along with many of the rest. There was a large number of entries, and we couldn’t fit them all in this issue, so we’ll be sure to print more of the best in our next magazine!

As always, in this issue we have some great wildlife for you, including the Major Mitchell cockatoo, tree-kangaroos, the somewhat scary cookie-cutter shark and an excursion through the amazing wildlife of Rainbow Valley.

And next issue get ready for the Flight of Your Life competition … but shhh, it’s still secret!

Kangaroos can’t climb trees! Or can they?

In north Queensland they do things differently. Well, the kangaroos do—they really live and clamber around in trees. Karen Coombes has been studying and rescuing tree-kangaroos for more than a decade and she lets us in on a few of their secret ways.

The elusive cookiecutter shark

These creatures are rarely seen but, if they bite, you’ll know it. Sylvia Adam has delved into the world of these small sharks with mighty mouths that leave a signature mark.

Secret places: Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve

In the heart of our continent lies a reserve like no other. Lisa and Peter Nunn love this area, so who better to show us around.

Become a Koala tracker

If, like us, you are worried about the future of this iconic Australian animal, then here is how you can help. Alex Harris thinks being a Koala tracker is definitely the way to go.

Licthfield is roughly 100 km south-west of Darwin. The Park is generally accessible all year (sealed roads) via Batchelor. In the dry season it is also possible to get to the Park via Cox Peninsula Road, that is incidentally a great wildlife sight seeing road. Roughly 1500 km2 of sandstone habitats with several amazing waterfalls that simply are world class.

In a overnight trip to Adelaide River on the Stuart Hwy in Northern territory. We stayed at the Adelaide River Inn, in swags. The buffalo, which was a tame local in Adelaide River, made famous in the Crocodile Dundee movie, was affectionately known as Charlie and he is now deceased (2000) and is now on display at the Adelaide River Inn. The region has a colourful history originally a strong military presence was established here especially during world war 2. There is a old RAAF landing strip at Fenton and an army installation now run down. While its mostly been well covered with removal of old bottles, military items etc. Its still relatively intact with numerous buildings, for those that cannot help themselves large amounts of sheets of iron that have to be investigated! The region is super warm and tin lifting is best in the early morning. (continue reading…)

Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve is an accessible all year round wetland systems connectivity through the Adelaide River system. The Adelaide River catchment is one of several connected catchments which make up the Top End wetlands. This is the remnant of a failed attempt to grow rice. Instead the region became an internationally rtecognised bird sanctuary.

On our recent visit through the area we were unfortunately only driving through at night. From a reptile point of view its common to see a variety of reptiles and frogs at night. Often small crocodiles will be on the road during the wet season. However as amusing as crocs are we were keen to see our old friends the water pythons and keelbacks. As well as the species of frogs. (continue reading…)

Mornington Peninsula national park, 77 km south of Melbourne, Victoria. It has the unique marine life diversity that such a region would as it has the Western Port bay frontage from the Cape Schanck side while the northern side has its access to Port Phillip Bay. The park is home to large range of Victorian wildlife from Eastern Grey Kangaroos, koalas, seals and antechinus. Birds are plentiful with the ocean faring species like mutton birds common. Penguins swim ashore in some locales and raptors like the sea eagles can be seen here. But in this blog we want to look at the rock pools and sea life. Its true that ocean life is more sensationalised with whales, dolphins and sharks. However a recent trip with Steve Cook was to in the space of a few hours open my eyes to a wonderful treasure chest of marine life